Show #40 September 4, 2010

 

 For Christine and the Mods of '79

Christine- Gruppo Sportivo Pop! Goes The Brain/Design Moderne  

He's A Mover- Nikki & The Corvettes Nikki & The Corvettes  

OK U.K.- The Smirks Most Fun You Can Have with Your Clothes On: Beserkley Story

Hey Princess- Popsicle Laquer

Rock 'N' Roll Heads- The Scruffs Teenage Gurls Tournament Of Hearts- The Weakerthans Reunion Tour

Hear This- Slaters The Big Black Bug Bled Black Blood

Things Will Be Different- The Shods Thanks For Nuthin'

^Just The Girl- The Click Five Greetings From Imrie House

Down- The Rooks Encore Echoes

New Little Girl- Off Broadway On

Right Now- The Wild Giraffes Right Now  

Prove It- Tweezers Already!  

Coit Tower- Millionaire At Midnight Titan: It's All Pop!

*Away From The Numbers- The Jam Direction, Reaction, Creation 

*Millions Like Us- Purple Hearts DIY Starry Eyes: UK Pop II 

*One Way World- Secret Affair Glory Boys/Behind Closed Doors 

*Cortina MK.2- The Lambrettas Beat Boys In The Jet Age Can't Take It- Numbers Add Up  

She's A Sleestak- Nerf Herder How To Meet Girls  

Tell That Girl To Shut Up- Holly & The Italians DIY Shake It Up: American Power Pop II  

Whole Wide World- Wreckless Eric Big Smash  

Dying In Fiction- The Front Lines Where Do We Go From Here? EP  

When Reality Hits You- The Genuine Fakes When Reality Hits You 

>Substitute- The Who Meaty, Beaty, Big & Bouncy  

Break My Heart Tomorrow- Steve Blimkie & The Reason Steve Blimkie & The Reason  

I'm Shakin'- Blasters The Blasters 

It's Too Hot- Billy Karloff And The Extremes Let Your Fingers Do The Talking  

House of Mirrors- Will & The Bushmen Will & The Bushmen  

I Can't Wait- The Jolt The Jolt

 

^Power Pop Peak: #11 Billboard Hot 100 8/16/05

 

*SacroSet: Britain's Late 70's Mod Revival

 

>Power Pop Prototype: 1966

Duxbury High School in the late 70's was home to several rigidly defined social groups. The Jocks (mostly football players, and some soccer players who could keep up beer for beer, in long sleeve oxford shirts, Levi's cords and expensive Addidas sneakers) were at the top of the social ladder followed by The Yachties (rich kids and soccer players, heavily layered in Izod shirt over a white turtleneck with optional crew neck sweater, khaki pants with whale belt, Top-siders shoes). Also at the top were some high functioning members of The Druggies (kids from families with less money, or upper middle class kids trying to pass in the DHS smoking area, most wearing white thermal under a flannel shirt and down vest, jeans and Timberlands). At the bottom of the pecking order were The Brains (in glasses, oxford shirt, v-neck sweater vest, Levis cords, and off-brand sneakers), most of The Druggies and the unnamed dorks, dweebs, nerds, etc. The majority of the school, myself included, was in-between these two poles, usually rising or falling with the vicious cycle of high school popularity. Against such a mundane background, how could I not be completely enthralled with the multiple youth movements in Britain at the time: 

 

• The last of the Glam Rockers (make-up, spandex, sequins, top hats, etc.)

 

  

• Punks (legit- imately ripped up shirts, sweaters, leather jackets or those purchased, probably from Malcom McLaren)
  

 
 

• Teddy Boy Revivalists (Drape jacket, brocade vest, bootlace tie, drainpipe trousers, creepers on their feet) 
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

• RudeBoys/ Skinheads (Bomber jacket, jeans, Fred Perry shirt, suspenders, Doc Martens ) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and the subject of tonight's SacroSet:

• Mod Revivalists (Italian three-button, narrow lapel suits, button-down collar shirts, skinny ties, military parka, pointy-toed "winklepickers" on their feet)

While my favorite music in high school was Punk Rock, I didn't have the guts to pull off any "punk" style beyond The Ramones' ripped t-shirt, jeans, Chuck Taylors look. Plus, I lacked the social "blind spot" shielding me from the ridiculousness of a middle class American suburbanite dressing like a working class British punk. The Mod Revival look was another thing altogether though. I might not be able to look like Johnny Rotten, but I could certainly pull off Paul Weller. Right across the street from the original Newbury Comics in Boston was a store called High Society- the first vintage/mod/new wave clothing store I'd ever seen. With the little paper-route money I had left after buying records I'd buy a skinny tie or a badge from High Society. My first major clothing purchase with my own money was this incredibly cool blue plaid satin tuxedo jacket that I wore for years and my son Jack wore to a few ballroom dancing lessons when he was in the seventh grade. Around this time my friend Ted Maguire, who had older sisters and was the most fashion forward guy in our group, discovered the glorious bounty of the Salvation Army. From that point on thrift stores became a regular part of our routine. A few towns north of us, there was an amazing store at the Cardinal Cushing School in Hanover. Once a month, on the 1st Tuesday I think, they would have a "Dollar a Bag" day. I still have suits, shirts, ties, tuxes and shoes I bought back then. Even to this day, I get a little thrill whenever I walk into a thrift store for which I thank the bands in the late 70's British Mod Revival. 

 

Here is the link to stream/download this week's show: 

ALL KINDSA GIRLS #40 

Show #39 August 21, 2010

The Back To School Special is dedicated to Carrie Anne....


Carrie Anne- The Hollies 30th Anniversary Collection
School Is In- Josie Cotton Valley Girl: Music From The Soundtrack
I Don't Want It- The Genuine Fakes I Don't Want It
Don't Let Go- Seventeen A Flashing Blur Of Stripped Down Excitement
Stupid Rock Star's Dream- The Riffbackers PPO 2009 Top Ten
What Happens Next- The Cute Lepers Smart Accessories
I'm Gonna Be The Lonely Boy Tonite- Cherry Twister At Home With Cherry Twister
Rebel 81- Pictures Kicks & Tips 7"
^Teacher, Teacher- .38 Special The Very Best Of The A&M Years
A Few Home Truths- Hoodoo Gurus Purity Of Essence
X-Ray Proved- Princes Of Peace X-Ray Proved 7"
If You Don't Want Me No More- Dogs Legendary Lovers
Kids Today- The Strand Seconds Waiting
Chance To Play- Milk 'N' Cookies Milk 'N' Cookies
*Hot For Teacher!- Thundertrain Teenage Suicide
*Teenage Dirtbag- Wheatus Wheatus
*Teacher's Pet- The Quick Untold Rock Stories
*School of Rock- School of Rock Soundtrack
Saturday Nite Is Dead- Graham Parker Squeezing Out Sparks
Guerilla- The Numbers Govt. Boy 7"
You Can't Touch Her- Paul Warren & Explorer One Of The Kids
You Don't Have To Tell Me- The Blitz Panic Button 7"
Walk Away- The Pets Misdirection
Sing It Shout It- Starz Violation
>School Days- The Runaways The Best of the Runaways
When The Girls Get Here- The Young Fresh Fellows The Men Who Loved Music
Listen To The Heartbeat- DL Byron Shake Some Action Vol. 4
Sunrise On Sunset- The Hollywood Stars The Hollywood Stars
Throwaway Style- The Exploding Hearts Guitar Romantic
What I Got- The Wigs File Under: Pop Vocal
Schoolgirls- The Headboys The Headboys
I Wish I Could Go Back To College- Original Broadway Cast Avenue Q

^Power Pop Peak: #25 9/29/84

*SacroSet: Back To School >

>Power Pop Prototype: 1967

My son Jack started his freshman year at Sonoma Valley High School on August 18th and daughter Veronica's 6th Grade year at Woodland Star Charter School begins on August 25th (and don't think she isn't grinding on her brother about him starting a week earlier). Doing research for this Back To School Special, I found so much music to play that I think I'll be able to make it a yearly event. I have to say though that the song I'm most excited about this week is The Genuine Fakes "I Don't Want It." I found the band when I was rounding up music for the Swedish show and I can't get enough of the song right now. The funny thing is, had I come across The Genuine Fakes in a record store I might have passed them by because they break one of my Record Shopping Rules, in this case "#5--No facial hair." As the picture above shows, The Genuine Fakes are 4 for 4 in the mustache department. Even with the offsetting positives of matching black short-sleeved shirts and ties, the soup strainers would probably be a deal-killer.

This got me thinking about about other Record Shopping Rules that I have almost subconsciously followed in my 35 years as a music consumer:

• The best music ever made came out between 1975 and 1985. You could probably even narrow it down to 1976 to 1982. Now, that's just me talking, but I bet even the current bands I love (Hold Steady, Sloan, Fountains of Wayne, Big Kid, The Weakerthans, Kevin K and, for that matter, The Genuine Fakes) would agree.
• Guitars are a must. I don't think I own any records that don't have guitars and I'm pretty sure I don't want to.
  
• No more than five guys in the band. And it's five only because I'm making an allowance for a lead singer who doesn't play an instrument or MAYBE a keyboard player (see below). If it takes more than four people to play it, it's probably not for me. This is an excellent way to avoid Ska bands (other than the 2nd Wave British groups- The Specials, English Beat, etc.- it's a genre I avoid like the plague). The Boomtown Rats (lead singer, 2 guitars, bass, drums, keyboards) are a rare exception to the "5 Man Max" rule.
• No "percussion." If the drummer needs to be called a "percussionist" or if the group has both drummer and "percussionist," I'll take a pass. And, if it says "drum programming," double check that you're in the right section of the record store because that ain't right.
  
• No facial hair. Name one great punk rock band (aside from The Stranglers) that has a guy with facial hair. Now, name one Southern Rock band with a guy who ISN'T sporting whiskers. See?
  
• Beware of keyboards. Think twice about a group that has a dedicated keyboard player. Organ may be okay (especially Farfisa, then maybe Hammond) but avoid groups with synthesizers, synclavier and anything else that sounds like it was made at NASA.
• Women who rock are the exception, not the rule. I love the ladies, but let's face it, there are A LOT more women our there who want to be Kelly Clarkson, Miley Cyrus or Destiny's Child than want to be Suzi Quatro, Joan Jett or The Go-Go's. No judgement; that's just the way it is. After Blondie's success in the late 70's, all these female-fronted Power Pop groups got record contracts but many sounded like a pop singer in a rock band- "pretty" vocals with no grit to them- so I now proceed with caution.
  
• Distrust horns. Granted there a few great bands with a saxophone player (X-Ray Spex, Hanoi Rocks...oh, I guess there are only two) but you've got to watch trumpets, trombones, etc. because again you're getting dangerously close to Ska territory. There's a reason Fear had a song called "New York's Alright If You Like Saxophones."
• A record cover photo is worth a thousand words. Is the band wearing suits and skinny ties or cowboy hats and leather vests? They are sending you an important message- ignore it at your own peril. Of course, I played .38 Special tonight who are 100% in the latter category, so there are rare exceptions.
  

I'm sure there are other "rules" I've been following over the years, but like I said before, they are almost subconscious at this point. If I think of any more I'll be sure to include them in future posts. Also, if you have any of your own Record Shopping Rules, please leave a comment and I'll put them in as well.

Here are the links to download this week's show (Right Click and "Save Target As"):

Hour 1 http://sunfmtv.com/fm/showarchive/public/2010-08-21__20_59_57.mp3

Hour 2 http://sunfmtv.com/fm/showarchive/public/2010-08-21__21_59_57.mp3

Show #38 August 7, 2010

Tonight we rock for Janine!

Janine- The V.I.P.'S I Need Somebody To Love EP
The Ghost At Number One- Jellyfish Spilt Milk
Best Friends- The Outlets The Outlets Rock' 1980
No Chance- The Screaming Tribesmen High Time
Blow- The Powerchords ...Think I'm Gonna
Tonight Tonight- Speedometors Day In The Lights
The Strange Boutique- Monochrome Set The Strange Boutique
Streets Are Paved With Tarmac- Silver Sun You Are Here
^My Favorite Game- The Cardigans Gran Turismo
Once Upon A Time- The Fevers Love Always Wins
Different Kind Of Girl- The Beat The Beat
Keep Your Dress On- Loaded Dice No Sweat
Hot For You- The Blades Hot For You 7"
Nothing You Can Do- Manual Scan Plan Of Action EP
*Sister Surround- The Soundtrack of Our Lives Behind The Music
*A Fine Line- The Merrymakers Bubblegun
*Wolf n' the Lamb- Hawaii Mud Bombers Mondo Primo
*A Different Sunday- Beagle Sound on Sound
As The Rain Goes- Stryker Stryker 7"
I Don't Wanna Lose You- Rooney Eureka
Gonna Get Better- The Freshies Wrap Up The Rockets 7"
Pen Pal- Screams Paper Dolls 7"
Geraldine I Need Money (More Than I Need You)- Classic Ruins Lassie Eats Chickens
That's Not Enough- Another Pretty Face All The Boys Love Carrie 7"
>Waterloo- ABBA The Best Of (The Millennium Collection)
Gate 49- Stiff Little Fingers Go For It
You're So Funny- Fast Cars The Kids Just Wanna Dance 7"
No Such Thing- The Vipers I've Got You 7"
With My Face On The Floor- Emitt Rhodes Emitt Rhodes
Carl Perkins' Cadillac- Drive-By Truckers The Dirty South
Something for You- Pernice Brothers Goodbye, Killer
Cynicsm- The Bandables Cynicism 45
Zavelow House- Owsley Owsley

^Power Pop Peak: #16 Billboard Modern Rock Tracks 10/10/98

*SacroSet: Swedish Power Pop of the 90's and 00's

>Power Pop Prototype: 1974

One of the things I love about Power Pop is its international appeal- all over the world you'll find bands writing and playing upbeat rock & roll songs about girls. Case in point, I'd been planning a SacroSet of Scandanavian Power Pop for a while now but when I finally got down to putting it together I had way too much great music for one show. So, I decided to split the countries up and start with Sweden.

While Power Pop's zenith in America and the U.K. was in 1979, the genre's high point in Sweden was arguably in the mid-90's. Groups like Beagle and The Merrymakers (who I played tonight) along with Popsicle, The Drowners and Atomic Swing drove a full fledged Power Pop renaissance. Even trippy psychedelic band Soundtrack of Our Lives fell under the spell of 90's Swedish Power Pop, releasing their most accessible record to date, Behind The Music, in 2001. The scene is still going strong too with groups like Hawaii Mud Bombers, The Zoo and The Genuine Fakes.

It shouldn't come as a surprise that Sweden has produced so much great Power Pop when you consider that it is the birthplace of the most successful pure pop group of all time. Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid, better known as ABBA, have sold more than 370 million records worldwide. As a huge Kiss fan in the mid-70's, I had nothing but scorn for ABBA and when I started listening to punk rock I hated them outright. In fact, after about 1978 my friend Franzi was the only person I knew who would admit to liking them. That was an interesting time because our music tastes were in transition. Coming from hard rock, my favorite groups were AC/DC, Rush and The Ramones, while Franzi was and always will be a pop guy, so his favorites were ABBA, Olivia Newton-John and Elvis Costello. I of course mocked him mercilessly but to his credit Franzi (now Frank) never renounced ABBA and I will always respect him for that. Especially since I went on to publicly disavow Kiss, AC/DC, Rush and other non-punk/new wave bands, even though, like a coward, I still listened to them in secret.

Since those days I've come full circle with ABBA for a couple of reasons. First, on a trip to Massachusetts a few years back I got to see the movie Mamma Mia with all the important ladies in my life (wife Jaime, daughter Veronica, sister Sarah and mother Ann) and we all loved it. Those songs truly stand the test of time, so much so that I was able to forget that it was a one time James Bond struggling through "SOS." Even my son Jack begrudgingly admitted to liking the film. Second, last year Nica was in a production called "How Can I Resist Ya!" at the Sebastiani Theater here in Sonoma (a "Mamma Mia" knockoff to be sure but Bjorn and Benny already have enough money). Seeing those young men and women bring those ABBA songs to life with colorful costumes and dance was really fun. And I defy anyone who has a daughter to resist getting choked up during "Slipping Through My Fingers:"

Schoolbag in hand, she leaves home in the early morning
Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile
I watch her go with a surge of that well-known sadness
And I have to sit down for a while

The feeling that I'm losing her forever
And without really entering her world
I'm glad whenever I can share her laughter, that funny little girl

Slipping through my fingers all the time
I try to capture every minute, the feeling in it
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Do I really see what's in her mind
Each time I think I'm close to knowing, she keeps on growing
Slipping through my fingers all the time

Sleep in our eyes, her and me at the breakfast table
Barely awake, I let precious time go by
Then when she's gone there's that odd melancholy feeling
And a sense of guilt I can't deny

What happened to the wonderful adventures
The places I had planned for us to go
Well, some of that we did but most we didn't, and why I just don't know

Sometimes I wish that I could freeze the picture
And save it from the funny tricks of time
Slipping through my fingers...

Slipping through my fingers all the time

Schoolbag in hand she leaves home in the early morning
Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile

That song just kills me- every time. I've probably said this before, but the older I get it seems that the act loving something is more important than what it is you love. Passion is the key- everything else is just a matter of taste. This helps me better understand my son's love of gangsta rap or a certain portion of the electorate's love of Sarah Palin. The cool thing is that passion is contagious. Admittedly, I probably won't ever like .50 Cent or Mrs. Palin, but thanks to Frank and Nica I have come to appreciate ABBA and their influence on the Power Pop music I love and play every week on All Kindsa Girls.

Here's Hour 1 of tonight's show (Right Click and "Save Target As"):
http://sunfmtv.com/fm/showarchive/public/2010-08-07__20_59_57.mp3

And Here's Hour 2: http://sunfmtv.com/fm/showarchive/public/2010-08-07__21_59_57.mp3

Show #37 July 24, 2010

For Lisa and the Fenway Faithful...

Lisa- The Golden Horde The Golden Horde
The Girl I Can't Forget- Fountains Of Wayne Out-Of-State Plates
Cosmos- Jr. Gone Wild Less Art, More Pop
Shipwreck- The Donkeys Television Anarchy
Find Yourself A Way- The Cardiac Kidz Get Out 7"
Hard Habit- Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents Keeping Time
Rosebud- The Stems At First Sight
Keys To Your Heart- The 101'ers Keys To Your Heart
^Ways To Be Wicked- Lone Justice Left Of The Dial: Dispatches From The '80s Underground
Annoying All The Neighbours- The Lonely Boys The Lonely Boys
Break Your Heart- Mike Viola & The Candy Butchers Falling Into Place
Who's Your Boyfriend?- Piper Piper
What's In a Name- The Crowd A World Apart
I Want The Angel- The Jim Carroll Band Catholic Boy
*Tonight- The Boys The Boys
*Tonight- Gary Charlson Real Live Gary
*Tonight- Nick Lowe Jesus Of Cool
*Tonight- MC5 Back In The U.S.A.
Smart Accessories- The Cute Lepers Smart Accessories
Get Off My Bike- Dipsomaniacs Undertow
Funnier Than Love- The Mundanes Make It The Same 7"
Feel Like Dirt- Kevin K Band Rule The Heart
Gonna Be Strong- Rubber City Rebels Rubber City Rebels
It's Hot Outside- Jack Lee Jack Lee's Greatest Hits Vol. 1
>Slow Death- The Flamin' Groovies Groovies Greatest Grooves
Yes or No- Nits Shake Some Action Vol. 6
Listenning In- The Keys The Keys Album
Queen Of Eyes- The Soft Boys 1976-1981
Man Of The Crowd- Pointed Sticks Part Of The Noise
Space-Age Rock Queen- Permanent Wave Radar EP
It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This- Eugene Edwards My Favorite Revolution

^Power Pop Peak: #71 Billboard Hot 100 5/11/85

*SacroSet: "Tonight" Songs

>Power Pop Prototype: 1972

Jack, Me, Nica at "Church"

Earlier this summer my daughter Veronica got to participate in a Love family ritual that goes back decades- she went to her first Red Sox game at Fenway Park in Boston. The Sox have been struggling in third place most of the year (though even with their record they'd be first in most other lame divisions, but that's life in the AL East). The good news is this means you can actually get tickets without taking out a second mortgage. So with my sister's help, my Mom bought tickets for all of us through Stub Hub. The Sox were playing division rivals the Tampa Bay Rays and Rays pitcher Matt Garza had their number that night but Papi almost put one

out and we had a great time anyway. The Sox bullpen blew it leaving them down 9-1 in the 8th inning. The fairweather fans started leaving so we upgraded from the bleachers to box seats about six rows behind the Sox' dugout. The team had a little more life in them and the final was 9-4. Nica loved it and is now part of the Fenway Faithful (Jack had already been indoctrinated in the early 2000's).

See Nica's T-shirt above

The Sox were always big when I was growing up but nowhere near as popular as they've become since John Henry bought the team in 2002. The World Series Wins in '04 and '07 have elevated the team to the point where it is now the common language of New Englanders. Starting the moment I got off the plane I noticed that about every 20th person I saw was wearing some kind of Red Sox gear- that includes men, women, boys and girls of every ethnicity. At the game we saw everyone from indie hipster kids to elderly grandmothers cheering on the team and wherever we went during the week we were back people were talking Red Sox: Pedroia and Ellsbury's rehab, DelCarmen's sore shoulder, whether or not Francona made the right decision the last game and so on.

Never Forget Darryl Stingley

There's nothing like it here in Northern California where the Giants and A's are perennial also-rans, the Warriors and 49'ers suck outright and The Raiders players are more concerned about being straight up gangsta than playing football while their "fans" are just waiting around for a chance to start looting again. (That may sound harsh but I'm still pissed about Jack Tatum- his death doesn't change a thing.)

Jack bought a Youkilis jersey and two cool Red Sox hats while we were in Massachusetts but after we got home told me he was getting funny looks while wearing the hats in the Springs, where a lot of Sonoma's Latino population lives. Turns out gangbangers have appropriated the Red Sox "B" because they say it looks like a "13." Here's what Wikipedia had to say about it:

"Trece is the Spanish word for thirteen; the number 13 is used to identify members of 13th Sureños – chicano gang members in the U.S. that identify themselves with la Eme – the Mexican Mafia."

Because there has been some gang related crime in Sonoma, even though nothing has happened on school grounds, the high school had to adopt a special "Gang Related Dress Code" which reads:

Clothing and accessories of any kind that are deemed by the Principal and/or law enforcement to have any unauthorized group affiliation are not allowed; clothing and accessories of any kind worn in a particular fashion that indicates an unauthorized group affiliation are not allowed.

Examples of prohibited clothing and accessories include but are not limited to:

1.Solid Red and/or Blue Clothing (includes solid shirts worn underneath other clothing, sweatshirts, and hats [even if brim and / or insignia are a different color]).
 
2.All clothing brands and designs with any unauthorized group symbols or signs on it, including but not limited to: "13" "14" "XIII" "XIV" all area codes, etc.

So, thanks to this gang my son can't show his support for the team his family has loved for five generations! I double-checked with high school principal when I saw him this week and he confirmed that unfortunately this was the case- no clothes with the Red Sox "B." I don't blame the guy; even though it's a useless bit of show business, he's got to look pro-active on the anti-gang front. Kids can't wear 49'ers jerseys either, so it's not like the Red Sox are being singled out. Still, it sucks and I feel bad that these are some of the "rules" in the world we're leaving our kids.

Luckily they said nothing about the Patriots!

Jack at Patriot Place

You can download this week's show here (Right click and "Save Target As"): 
ALL KINDSA GIRLS #37

Show #36 July 10, 2010

Dedicated to Renee...
and for Tommy, and Pete and Andy


Renee- Hoehn & Duren Blue Orange
I Will Dare- The Replacements Let It Be
Come And Take Me Tonight- Loaded Dice No Sweat
Call My Name- Dirty Angels Dirty Angels
Faded Portraits- Critical Mass It's What's Inside That Counts
Baby Baby- The Vibrators Pure Mania
You're What I'm Looking For- Rooney Eureka
All I Can Do- The Jolt You're Cold 7"
^I Think We're Alone Now- The Rubinoos Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About
Rock Problems- The Hold Steady Heaven Is Whenever
Hello Mr. Johnson- The Shades Shake Some Action Vol. 4
Every Minute- The Grip Weeds Infinite Soul: The Best of
My Guitar Lies Bleeding In My Arms- Tuff Darts! Tuff Darts!
Baby Please Believe Me- Pete Holly & The Looks Baby Please... 45
*American Beat '84- The Fleshtones It's Super Rock Time!
*American Fun- The Stompers The Stompers
*American Kix- Candy Whatever Happened To Fun
*So American- The Mutants So American 45
Hideaway- The Finders Calling Dr. Powerpop
I Wanted To Tell You- Matthew Sweet Girlfriend
Well You Never...- Sex Beatles Well You Never 45
Hush Hush- The Plimsouls Live! Beg, Borrow & Steal
Grown Up Age- The Bureaucrats Feel The Pain 7"
The Coast Is Always Changing- Maximo Park A Certain Trigger
>All Of My Friends Were There- The Kinks The Village Green Preservation Society
Dream Girls- Modulators She's So Cynical 7"
Windy Beach- Battered Wives Cigarettes
Bechamel- Pernice Brothers Goodbye, Killer
Mustard Sally- Chino Mala Leche

^Power Pop Peak: #45 Billboard Hot 100 3/5/77

*SacroSet: America Songs

>Power Pop Prototype: 1968

For the most part I'm okay with growing older. It sucks having to get up during the night to go the bathroom and I'm no longer able to ride centrifugal force carnival rides like Tilt-O-Whirl and The Sizzler but generally I'm doing okay and as the punchline from the old joke about aging goes: "it's better than the alternative." Thanks to running and cycling I don't feel much different than I did fifteen or twenty years ago. I also still have most of my hair, so I've got that going for me.

At the same time, it's impossible not to feel old when so many of the singers and musicians you grew up with are dying. Drug and alcohol related deaths like Dee Dee Ramone's and Johnny Thunders' have been part of rock & roll from the beginning. But for me, things started changing with Joey Ramone's death in 2001. Even so, he'd been fighting cancer for seven years so it wasn't a shock. Joe Strummer's death the following year, however, was like a kick in the stomach- he is a hero of mine and, what made it even worse, was in the midst of a musical renaissance with his band the Mescaleros.

Maybe because All Kindsa Girls has me paying more attention, but 2010 already seems like a deadly year for musicians I like. The first three months of the year marked the passing of Jay Reatard (1/13/10), Doug Fieger (2/14/10) and Alex Chilton (3/17/10). Six weeks later we lost Will Owsley (4/30/10). When I was preparing this week's show my friend Brian sent an e-mail lamenting the death of original Kinks bass player Pete Quaife (6/23/10), which I noted with this week's Power Pop Prototype "All My Friends Were There" from the The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society, his last record with the group. Then a day later I read that Memphis singer-songwriter Tommy Hoehn (6/24/10) is gone (that's his picture above and tonight's dedication song "Renee" is one of my favorites from his time playing with Van Duren). Now, when I finally get to this post I see another member of Big Star, bass player Andy Hummel (7/19/10), has died. That makes four Memphis musicians (Reatard, Chilton, Hoehn, Hummel) dead in 2010 and the year has over four months to go! WTF!!

When my wife Jaime gets into one of her dark moods she'll ask me "is this all there is to the second half of life- your body falls apart and people you love start dying?" Now I'm a "glass is half full" person but I see what she means; I guess death is going to be a much bigger part of our lives from here on out. Since we don't really have a say in the matter we're just going to have to accept it, but that doesn't mean we have to like it. I have to admit it was starting to get to me on this week's show though when after The Kinks I played Chino (featuring Alex Soria who killed himself on 12/13/04) and had Jim Carrol (heart attack, 9/11/09) cued up. I actually said something like "I promise no tributes to dead people next show," but as my friend Jeff once said, that sounds like "throwing a glove down before the Gods," so I take it back.

I loved the TV show Six Feet Under and one of the lines I remember most was Nate Fisher's response to the question "Why do people die?" He said: "To give life meaning." I think he's right- the ticking clock provides a sense of urgency. Otherwise death is just a cruel joke and I can't believe that. So, Rest In Peace Andy, Tommy and Pete- thanks for all the great music guys.

You can download Hour 1 of tonight's show here (Right click and "Save Target As"): http://sunfmtv.com/fm/showarchive/public/2010-07-10__20_59_57.mp3


And here is Hour 2: http://sunfmtv.com/fm/showarchive/public/2010-07-10__21_59_57.mp3

Show #35 June 26, 2010

For Mary Anne and the Woodland Star Class of 2010

Mary Anne- Marshall Crenshaw Marshall Crenshaw
Good Times- The Easybeats The Definitive Anthology
Jacquline Susann- Pernice Brothers Goodbye, Killer
Bish Bash Bosh- Jook Different Class
Back In The Working Class- Panic Squad Panic Squad 12" EP
In The Night- Back Seat Romeos Zero Ambition 7"
If You Tried- The Fastbacks ...And His Orchestra
Teenage Days- Hilly Michaels Calling All Girls
^What Do All The People Know- The Monroes The Monroes
Radio Love- The Breakers Radio Love Single
Evil Change Of Seasons- The Infidels The Infidels x4
All or Nothing- Rooney Eureka
Best Friend- The Gangsters Shake Some Action Vol. 3
Cry A Little- The Chicaynes Further Thoughts Single
*On The Beach- Raspberries Side 3
*On The Beach- The Producers On The Beach 45
*On The Beach- The Revillos Rev Up
*On The Beach- SVT Extended Play
Crackin' Up- Hoodoo Gurus Purity Of Essence
I've Got A Girl (I Can Count On)- Jim Freeman & the Golden Gate Jumpers Romantic
(I Never Loved) Eva Braun- The Boomtown Rats A Tonic For The Troops
Rendezvous- Greg Kihn Most Fun You Can Have with Your Clothes On: Beserkley Story
She Goes To Finos- The Showbiz Kids She Goes To Finos Single
Take It or Leave It- The Runaways The Best of the Runaways
>Romeo & Juliet- Michael & The Messengers Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era
Second Floor- DM3 Dig it the Most
December- Teenage Fanclub Bandwagonesque
Keep On Thinkin'- Sloan Navy Blues
We're Too Young- The Boys Titan: It's All Pop!
Don't Moonlight On Me- The Flys See For Miles (1978-1980)
Lie To Me- Dirty Looks Dirty Looks
My Junk- Spring Awakening Spring Awakening: A New Musical
Wont Make It Hard- Fools Face Tell America
We're Going To Be Friends- The White Stripes White Blood Cells

^Power Pop Peak: #59 Billboard Hot 100 5/29/82

*SacroSet: Four Songs "On The Beach"

>Power Pop Prototype: 1967

Earlier this month my son Jack graduated from the 8th Grade at Woodland Star Charter School. Though we had little doubt he would, this was still a momentous occassion in the Love household. The class shared songs and verses they'd learned in each year at the school and sang a beautiful version of The White Stripes "We're Going To Be Friends," which is the sign-off song on tonight's show. Jack's teacher Mr. Harrington asked me to give the Parent Address at graduation- here's what I said:

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I'd like to thank Mr. Harrington and Ms. Reilly for inviting me to speak this evening- it's an honor to be here. Tonight we celebrate the graduation of Woodland Star Charter School’s Class of 2010, which, after two years of kindergarten and eight years through the grades, I consider to be the school’s first fully matriculated class, though Johnny Graham may disagree with me on that one. These young men and women of the Class of 2010 rock, it’s true, but more on them in a moment.

First, I want to acknowledge another important group tonight. For these older men and women, this moment is the culmination of up to ten years’ work. Ten years of building, sanding, painting – landscaping, planting, harvesting – knitting, stitching, crocheting - helping, supporting, encouraging and of course the all-important fundraising. These are just a few of the tasks these people have performed on behalf of the school and the class of 2010. Please stand as I quickly read your names and audience, please hold your applause until I’m finished:

(I read a list of names here)

Ladies & Gentlemen, I present to you the PARENTS of the Woodland Star Class of 2010.

A Graduation ceremony is a time to think big picture. To think about the world we are leaving for those who come after us- our legacy, their future. The challenge is that the “future” isn’t what it used to be. Fifty years ago our future was consumer space travel, housecleaning robots, the end of disease, and flying cars. Now, thanks to our media’s fear-based marketing in the 24-hour news cycle, discussion of our future is likely to include terrorism, deadly viruses, global warming, and if it’s a slow news day, maybe even killer bees. Author Chuck Palanhiuk sums up this shift in perceptions of our future in his book Invisible Monsters, asking the question: “When did the future switch from being a promise to being a threat?”

Seriously. “When did the future switch from being a promise to being a threat?” I ask you, as a society, where did our optimism go? And I’m not just whining because I’m still waiting for my rocket car and robot butler.

War, ignorance, poverty, climate change- these global problems are bigger than all of us. And yet, I’m optimistic about our world in large part because of all of you. As a community we’ve come together to find small solutions for these big problems. Small solutions for big problems. In our classrooms, students learn about history, about compassion, about respect for one another and for our planet. For ten years I’ve watched the students in the class of 2010 grow into the fine young men and women seated before you tonight. I consider myself lucky to have been with them:

in Kindergarten during Miss Monnica’s Easter Egg Hunts at what Jack then called the Teepee School;

in the 4th Grade under the bark houses at Indian Grinding Rock State Park, where we went on to see the Locke Lady’s infamous Toilet Bowl Garden;

and in the 8th Grade laughing alongside at Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s unbelievably funny production of The Servant of Two Masters.

In contrast with his downer quote about the future I read earlier, Chuck Palahniuk writes in his novel Choke: "We can spend our lives letting the world tell us who we are. Sane or insane. Saints or sinners. Heroes or victims. Letting history tell us how good or bad we are. Letting our past decide our future. Or we can decide for ourselves. And maybe it's our job to invent something better."

Shortly after one of Jack’s class field trips, the same year my daughter Veronica started as a Morning Glory kindergartener, I was inspired to write a song about our school community. Don’t worry; my guitar is still safely in its case at home. But I do want to tell you that the chorus of the song included these words: “If we stop history from repeating itself, we’ll save the world one family at a time.”

One family at a time. Small solutions for big problems. Everyone says “the world’s a mess, but its problems are so big what can you do about it?” This community has done something about it. Ladies & Gentlemen from the bottom of my heart I thank you for The Woodland Star Class of 2010.
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You can download Hour 1 of tonight's show here (Right click and "Save Target As"): http://sunfmtv.com/fm/showarchive/public/2010-06-26__20_59_57.mp3

And here is Hour 2: http://sunfmtv.com/fm/showarchive/public/2010-06-26__21_59_57.mp3

Show #34 June 5, 2010

My Bonnie lies over the ocean...

Bonnie- Big Dipper Supercluster: The Big Dipper Anthology
This Far Before- Material Issue International Pop Overthrow
Burnt Orange- Hoodoo Gurus Purity Of Essence
I Want You- The Moberlys Sexteen
Your Imagination- Shoes Shoe's Best
Every Night Of The Week- Seventeen A Flashing Blur Of Stripped Down Excitement
You Were So Warm- Dwight Twilley Band Sincerely
Talk About Nothing- Farrah Moustache
^Found Out About You- Gin Blossoms New Miserable Experience
Way Out World- Shrapnel Go Cruisin' 7''
La La La- The Cavedogs Joy Rides for Shut-Ins
Cool City- The Cute Lepers So Screwed Up
Why- The Strand Seconds Waiting
I Wanna Get Married- De Cylinders I Wanna Get Married Single
*Phenomenal World- The Orbits Make The Rules 45
*Tell It All- The Wigs File Under: Pop Vocal
*When I Was Younger- The Shivvers Teen Line 45
*Body Language- The Haskels Haskels The E.P. 7"
Tall Trees- Crowded House Woodface
Culture Shock- Shake Culture Shock 10" EPTreat Me Right- Sass Radio 45
No Promise- The Flashcubes Bright Lights
Have You Seen Her- The Colors Rave It Up EP
After The Fire- Little Murders Stop Plus Singles 1978-1986
>Mama Weer All Crazee Now- Slade SladestEmpty Faces- Push Ups Empty Faces 45
Waiting To Shine- Adam Schmitt IlliteratureHeartache- Protex I Can Only Dream 7''
Ultimato- Crackers Sir Crackers!
Looking Forward to Destroy- Mad Turks Cafe Istanbul
Someday's Gonna Come- The Reducers Cruise To Nowhere
This Is The Way- The Stilettos Shake Some Action Vol. 3
Sticky Sweet Girls- The Zeros 4-3-2-1-The Zeros
Are You Sleeping- Hoodoo Gurus Purity Of Essence

^Power Pop Prototype: #25 Billboard Hot 100 1/15/94

*SacroSet: Milwaukee Early 1980's Power Pop

>Power Pop Prototype: 1972

Let's face it- All Kindsa Girls is NOT a new music  radio show. So it seems like an embarrassment of riches to have not only a new Hold Steady album but also a new one from The Hoodoo Gurus (who are pictured above). Being on the other side of 50 hasn't dulled Dave Faulkner's pop sensibilities any, in fact some of the ballads on the record are as good as any he's written. There is also a scorching song about getting older called "Burnt Orange" that I played tonight:

When I was 17 my blood was gasoline

No matter where I turned, I got my fingers burned
I wouldn't go back there if I could

But then I turned 21, no fear of anyone
I always let them know if they were friend or foe
I wouldn't go back there if I could

I remember very well, way back then I went through hell
Always thought I was smart, never played it from the heart

I never listened to my Daddy's point of view
And though I wish I had, things they turned out so bad
I wouldn't go back there if I could

When I was in my teens and early 20's I used to hate the Rolling Stones and other groups that were still touring despite becoming musically irrelevant. I'm sorry but a 12" Disco Mix of "Miss You?" Or how about "Emotional Rescue," which to me makes Lou Reed's Metal Machine Music sound like London Calling. Part of the problem was people were listening to these dinosaurs when I thought they should be listening to something new, like say London Calling. Another thing I disliked was how the Stones were trying to ignore the passage of time, especially Mick at 45 jumping around like an anorexic teenage girl. I've since mellowed quite a bit and fully admit that taking Jack to see AC/DC in 2008 was the equivalent of going to any Rolling Stones tour after 1976. Furthermore, while nowhere as skinny as Mick, I have been known to jump around the stage while playing with my band The Dadz.

One of the things I find so cool about Dave Faulkner and The Hoodoo Gurus is that they acknowledge the passing of time and their songs benefit from the different viewpoint of guys who have been around a few years. Craig Finn and The Hold Steady do the same thing- they aren't afraid to act their age but still rock...hard. Hopefully these guys are exploding the myth that rock and roll is only a young man's game.

Click to stream this show, or to download right click and "Save Target As:"
ALL KINDSA GIRLS #34